Floating airport



July 7, 1931.

4m; Uilm fz a 310m l J. H. TODD ETAL FLOATING AIRPORT Filed Aug. 1, 1929` INVENTOR v James ill ldd Patented July 7, 1,931

, UNITED STATES JAMES H. TODD, oF BROOKLYN, NEW Yeux, Nue-Eolienni WHEELER, on; RIVERSIDE, cominorateurV f v FLOATING AIR'POBT Application filed August 1, 1529." SerialiNo.v 3822697;

This invention krelates to ioating airports and our improvements are directed to floats having a fixed ramp that is partly submerged and adapted to facilitate the operation of hauling a seaplane or the like upon the deck of the ioat and its return to the water.

Further our improvements are directed to means functioning under the influence of air pressure to maintain a moored float in position with its ramp lying in the direction of the wind, so that a seaplane or the like alighting on the water surface against the wind can be pointed toward the ramp.

Further our improvements include power means upon the float so that when moored in tidal waters or where currents exist it can be swung to present its ramp toward an approaching seaplane or the like. Y

Further our improvements comprise means in connection with the mooring means to facilitate the directional control of the float.

kOther features and advantages of our invention will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of afloat equipped with our improvements, and

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof.

In said figures let 1 indicate the hull of a float intended for use as an airport, the main deck 2 of said float having at one end, which may be the stern, a ramp 3 whose outboard end extends below the surface ofthe water to permit seaplanes and the like toV be hauled up the ramp and on to the deck.

It is desirable that the oat, when moored at its end opposite the ramp end shall be provided with means for holding said ramp end pointed in the direction of the wind, and therefore, for use in non-tidal waters and where there are no currents, we employ a vertical vane or wind board, indicatedat 4, that is positioned along the longitudinal centre of the float, and is elevated suiiiciently above the deck to permit a vseaplane or the like to pass thereunder. Outrigged stanchions 5 are indicated as means for supporting vane 4. When the float is moored in tidal waters or where currents exist we provide power means carried by the fioat for swinging said float about its end mooring to point tlie''rarnp`*end in the wind'i directionf For this purpose we have shown amotor f 6, preferably located belowthe mainA deck, tow'arrlltlieramp endV of' the float, andi apropeller operablel thereby, said; screw' being 5s carried-' by af shaft: that extends through the side` ofthehulll When the float has swung-into the w'in'dby means -of the propel-y le`ri`7- itv can beheld in'ithatf pos-itionby an anicliorlzV that isl then lowered fr'ornth'e op* V60 posite side of tliefloat. A-windlass, having" suit-able operating means, isindieat'ed at 9 forlowering-f and raisingA aneher'' 8.- The mooring means; herein illustrated: as vapplied to'the float end opposite-the ramp-comprise 65 an'f anchoringsp'udlA 10, and four mooring standards 11 disposed concentrically therel about. y Y v f -ballbear'ing ringl12 is freely revoluble ontlief spudlO; being'supportedthereon bya 70 fixed annulaibearer 13. Saidlring 12 has? h'in'ged connection,- indicatedl at 14, withi a?, rigid V bridle 15 that is hinged at separated points 16 to thejliull end'a't aboutl` the deck level,therebyfallowingtlie float to ride freely at vanying-ti'de levels; e

At each of four points on the radius of 'the swing of the floats anchored end there is locatedfa mooring standard 11, said stand- K ards being so positioned that they are clear of ythe hull at all times.

To the head of each of the four mooring standards 11 there is fitted suitable means of securing the ends of an operating cable 17. Said cable 17 passes over sheaves 18 that g5` are installed on the outboard ends of rigid steel outriggers 19, thencel passing over roller sheaves 20 to a motor operated winch 21 that is located within'the hull. n By slacking off the swinging oroperating 9o cable on one side and hauling by means of the winch on the cable at the opposite side the ioat can be brought into the direction of the wind and held there by keeping the y A strain on the hauling side against tide or 9&5 current. The mooring ends of the operating cable can be in the form of a bridle 22, Vso that connection can be made to two mooring standards 11h at one time, whereby before one mooring is cast of'f the mooring desired 100 can be made when preparing to swing the fioat.

At 23 we have indicated a hangar, and at 24 a machine shop. Other facilities a preciably can be provided on the ioat. ariations within the spirit and scope ofour invention are elually comprehended Abythe foregoing disc oslreJ We claim:

lLLI'he combination with afloat having a n i ramp at one end thereof and mooring means`V f i.

at its other end, of mooring standards positioned concentrically about said-mooring I means, and means carried by said float to co-act with said mooring standards "'for tion.

ZQAThecombination witharloat having a ramp at Voneend thereofand anchoring means at its other end, of mooring standards positioned concentricallyvabout said` anchoring; means, means carried byl said float toco-act with said mooring standards for swinging said loatinto an adj ustedpositionand means for holding saidrfloat with its ramp pointed in the direction of the wind. l l

t The combination witha' float having a ramp at one end thereof `and anchoring means at `its other end, a pluralitymof mooring standards positioned concentrically about said anchoring means, a bridlehaving one, endl connected tosaid fioati'and having lits other end rotatably borne by said anchoring, ineans,whereby the front of,r saidfloat is swingingl said float intoan adjusted pQS- ,dV clear of the standards at all timesgand means carried by said 'float to eo-act with said standards for swinging said float into an adjusted position. i l i v l INew York, July `3l, 1929. i

JAMES H; TODD.

GEO. F. .n 

